Rutgers University Geology Museum

The Rutgers University Geology Museum occupies several levels of Geology Hall and displays minerals, fossils, and rock specimens collected over generations. The collection ranges from local New Jersey examples to materials from around the world, showing the variety of Earth's geological history.

The museum was founded in 1872 by Professor George Hammell Cook, who built upon specimens gathered by naturalist Lewis Caleb Beck beginning in the 1830s. These early collections provided the foundation for what would become a major scientific repository at the university.

The museum reflects how geology became central to university education in the 1800s and remains a place where students and visitors engage with scientific knowledge. You can see this focus on learning throughout the displays, which were built to teach, not just to impress.

The museum is located on Queens Campus at Rutgers University and offers free admission to all visitors. Check opening hours before visiting, as they align with the academic calendar and may change seasonally.

The basement of Geology Hall once served as an armory, and in 1875 Princeton students famously broke in to steal muskets from the building. This long-forgotten incident reveals the intertwined history of the two nearby universities and their competitive relationship.

Location: New Brunswick

Inception: 1872

Made from material: sandstone

Part of: Queens Campus, Rutgers University

Website: https://geologymuseum.rutgers.edu

GPS coordinates: 40.49860,-74.44650

Latest update: December 9, 2025 18:49